Have Had Tinnitus for 1 Year, Now Increased from Accidental Gunshot

Hi All,
I haven't been here for quite awhile, that's because I've habituated fairly well over the year.

However, 2 days ago I was present when a rifle was accidentally discharged inside a garage.
The sound was beyond hideous, and my buzzing has increased in tone and intensity.

I don't know if this will settle down again after some time, or am I looking at more problems??

Any advice is always appreciated. Should I see a doctor?

Thanks!!

 

Go to the emergency as soon as you can and get the doctor to prescribe prednisone for you. Prednisone is supposed to help in cases just like yours. The sooner it is taken, the more effective it is supposed to be.

 

Steroid shot into the ear
Much better than oral
Asap

 

Thanks for replies, but isn't it better to wait a few days to see if
it goes back to baseline? Are you saying that it will get worse than
it is right now?
Thanks!

 

In this case no. An accidental gunshot will cause tinnitus in healthy individuals. Having unprotected ears in an enclosed space during a gunshot is not comparable to everyday loud noises that will spike us such as an ambulance, motorcycle, or fire alarm.

 

I think this is a medical emergency and this is a rare case where I might personally be tempted to try to get a steroid shot -- but keep in mind the actual evidence that steroids do anything in the case of acoustic trauma is not very good, and the evidence that does exist indicates that the optimal time window is within ~4-6 hours of the event.

For what it's worth, I shot a large rifle (M1) with no hearing protection in ~2006 and didn't have any problems as a result, as far as I know. That said, it was not a bright thing to do, and I was also not standing in an enclosed space...

 

I am going to see the primary care doctor, I can't
get a referral without him. I am afraid of the steroid
shot because last time I got oral steroids and wound
up in ER with horrible vertigo.

 

You do not need a referral for ER. But if you are going to your primary, make sure to tell him or her you want prednisone/steroids as your doctor will not be a mind reader.

If you had a bad reaction maybe doctor can use a different type of steroid.
Alternatively you can go to an urgent care clinic as you do not want to wait more than a day to treat this.